detain

verb

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de·tain | \ di-ˈtān

, dē- \

detained; detaining; detains

Definition of detain

transitive verb

1 : to hold or keep in or as if in custody detained by the police for questioning

2 obsolete : to keep back (something due) : withhold

3 : to restrain especially from proceeding was detained by a flat tire

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Choose the Right Synonym for detain

keep, retain, detain, withhold, reserve mean to hold in one's possession or under one's control. keep may suggest a holding securely in one's possession, custody, or control. keep this while I'm gone retain implies continued keeping, especially against threatened seizure or forced loss. managed to retain their dignity even in poverty detain suggests a delay in letting go. detained them for questioning withhold implies restraint in letting go or a refusal to let go. withheld information from the authorities reserve suggests a keeping in store for future use. reserve some of your energy for the last mile

delay, retard, slow, slacken, detain mean to cause to be late or behind in movement or progress. delay implies a holding back, usually by interference, from completion or arrival. bad weather delayed our arrival retard suggests reduction of speed without actual stopping. language barriers retarded their progress slow and slacken also imply a reduction of speed, slow often suggesting deliberate intention medication slowed the patient's heart rate , slacken an easing up or relaxing of power or effort. on hot days runners slacken their pace detain implies a holding back beyond a reasonable or appointed time. unexpected business had detained her

Examples of detain in a Sentence

They were detained by the police for questioning. He claimed he had been illegally detained. Unexpected business had detained her.

Recent Examples on the Web Police in Aurora, Colorado, involved in the 2019 death of Elijah McClain had no legal basis to stop or detain him. — Aj Willingham, CNN, "5 things to know for February 23: SCOTUS, White House, Covid-19, US police, Australia," 23 Feb. 2021 Federal prosecutors have argued that Munchel's offenses are serious enough to detain him pending trial to ensure the community's safety. — CBS News, "Release of alleged "zip tie guy" from Capitol riot blocked," 25 Jan. 2021 Authorities took Parscale to Broward Health Medical Center under the Baker Act, a Florida law that allows authorities to detain and treat someone believed to be a threat to themselves or others. — Washington Post, "Police use of force on ex-Trump campaign manager familiar during crisis calls, experts say," 30 Sep. 2020 Although there are also militant groups in Baluchistan that stage attacks on soldiers, separatists also often attack troops in the province, prompting authorities to detain suspects. — Abdul Sattar, Star Tribune, "Group: Pakistani Baloch dissident buried amid high security," 25 Jan. 2021 Amid the surge of people, the government was unable to hear and decide claims in the 20-day limit that it is allowed to detain families in immigration custody, forcing them to release people into the United States. — Anna Giaritelli, Washington Examiner, "Biden ends Trump 'remain in Mexico' asylum policy," 21 Jan. 2021 Munchel had been arrested days early after photographs surfaced of him – wearing black, with his face covered – inside the Senate chamber carrying zip ties that could be used as flex cuffs to detain people. — Danielle Wallace, Fox News, "FBI arrest another Tennessee man over Capitol riot selfie, Facebook post decrying Antifa, BLM," 18 Jan. 2021 The lawsuit, filed in May 2019 in Dallas County, alleges negligence by the company and states that security guards didn’t properly search or detain Juarez. — Dallas News, "Man who fatally shot Dallas police officer at Home Depot in 2018 is sentenced to life without parole," 15 Jan. 2021 The family began leaving the party after that confrontation — an insult, since protocol demanded that nobody leave before Trujillo — prompting military officers to detain Minerva and her father. — Gavin Edwards, New York Times, "Overlooked No More: Dedé Mirabal, Who Carried the Torch of Her Slain Sisters," 13 Jan. 2021

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'detain.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.